Probably asked before - VHF/UHF vs Sky transmission delay

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HaggisKiwi

94 posts

Master Geek

#45613 3-Nov-2009 18:35

This is probably something that has been asked before, but I'm getting pretty peed off by the sometime huge transmission delay between compteting providers.

For TV1 there seems to be up to a 5 second lag between the VHF transmission to what is presented through channel 001 on Sky Digital/MySky

For Prime, it's the reverse. There's about a 2 sec delay between what shows as Sky channel 004 and what is transmitted over UHF.

Is the something that is controlled by the network?
Or just the annoyance of transmission going up the the satellite and back down again?

Regs

4066 posts

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Snowflake

#269787 3-Nov-2009 21:40

you're always going to have more latency in satellite over terrestrial. also, digital needs to be 'decoded' and sometimes 'descrambled/unencrypted' so that increases lag too. not sure why prime is opposite, perhaps the terrestrial transmission stations are simply being fed via the sky or freeview broadcasted signal now.

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Snowflake
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illicit

553 posts

Ultimate Geek

#269793 3-Nov-2009 21:56

Why is this an issue? Are you trying to watch two TVs at once?

HaggisKiwi

94 posts

Master Geek

#269881 4-Nov-2009 09:03

illicit: Why is this an issue? Are you trying to watch two TVs at once?

I'm trying to avoid watching 2 TV's at once, it's just when my partner is in the back room watching TV1 on VHF & I'm watching the same on MySkyHDi, then it's the annoyance of the lack of synch - first on VHF then 5 sec later on HD Satellite.

Reverse watching Top Gear on prime - MySkyHDi comes first followed by 1 sec later on UHF.

If I get HD content diasbled (because it's only golf anyway), will that mean as I won't receive HD content the latency will reduce as I won't be receiving the HD transmission?

Regs

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Snowflake

#270063 4-Nov-2009 16:19

depends on where the lag is, and how much. if there is additional lag for decoding/descrambling the HD content at the set top box, plus additional lag to convert it to HD output suitable for your screen, and then further lag again as your screen scales/prepares the input then there could be a conceiveable gain.

i wouldnt bet on it though, and anyway you would still have some 600ms of satellite round-trip lag that you cant get rid of and is hugely noticeable.

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Snowflake
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Brunzy

2016 posts

Uber Geek

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#270091 4-Nov-2009 17:06

HaggisKiwi:
illicit: Why is this an issue? Are you trying to watch two TVs at once?

I'm trying to avoid watching 2 TV's at once, it's just when my partner is in the back room watching TV1 on VHF & I'm watching the same on MySkyHDi, then it's the annoyance of the lack of synch - first on VHF then 5 sec later on HD Satellite.

Reverse watching Top Gear on prime - MySkyHDi comes first followed by 1 sec later on UHF.

If I get HD content diasbled (because it's only golf anyway), will that mean as I won't receive HD content the latency will reduce as I won't be receiving the HD transmission?

No sorry,wont make any difference.
Lag,as regs says is because of the uplink/downlink time as opposed to a micowave terrestrial .

Why dont you either :

Get a modulator and feed sky to the 2nd tv
Split the sat signal and get a cheap sat STBox
Shut the door
get a new partner :o))

HaggisKiwi

94 posts

Master Geek

#270097 4-Nov-2009 17:19

Why dont you either :

Get a modulator and feed sky to the 2nd tv
Split the sat signal and get a cheap sat STBox
Shut the door
get a new partner :o))

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clevedon

1059 posts

Uber Geek

#270196 5-Nov-2009 07:48

HaggisKiwi: I'm trying to avoid watching 2 TV's at once, it's just when my partner is in the back room watching TV1 on VHF & I'm watching the same on MySkyHDi,

Huh?